Safety Flow Obstruction Holder for Tank Valve Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for replacing defective shutoff valves in large tanks require draining the entire tank, leading to significant manpower and resource costs, as well as potential safety hazards due to the need for large trucks and prolonged waiting periods.
Innovation Solution
A safety flow obstruction holder system that includes multiple shutoff valves and passageways allows for selective control of fluid flow, enabling the replacement of defective valves without draining the tank, using a supply passageway, ball valve, and drainage passageways with shut-off valves to manage fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single shutoff valve is used in the tank system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases because the entire tank must be drained to replace the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single shutoff valve system into multiple shutoff valves (first shutoff valve, second shutoff valve, third shutoff valve) positioned at different locations in the passageway. This segmentation allows individual valves to be replaced independently without draining the entire tank, thereby improving productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If the entire tank is drained to replace a defective shutoff valve, then the valve can be replaced safely, but the loss of time increases due to complete drainage and truck waiting
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the valve system into multiple independently controllable shutoff valves at different locations, the patent enables localized valve replacement operations. When one valve becomes defective, only the specific section containing that valve needs to be isolated and drained, not the entire tank. This significantly reduces tank downtime and loss of time while maintaining safety through proper isolation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by positioning multiple shutoff valves in advance at strategic locations along the passageway. This预先布置 allows operators to quickly isolate and drain only the necessary section when a valve failure occurs, rather than needing to drain the entire tank. The preliminary placement of multiple valves enables rapid response and minimizes tank downtime.
3Device complexity
If a single shutoff valve is used, then the device complexity is lower, but the loss of substance increases due to complete tank drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve system into multiple shutoff valves positioned at different locations in the passageway. This segmentation enables isolation of only the specific section containing the defective valve, allowing maintenance to be performed on a localized basis. Consequently, the majority of the tank contents remain in place, significantly reducing fluid loss and the need for complete tank drainage while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety flow obstruction holder is for connecting to a tank for storing a liquid.